TimWil

I think Ben materialized in Walford last September but he waa apparently released from custody back in early April.

I think I mentioned this before but it would be risky: Nancy falls hard for a Muslim man and converts, down to wearing the hijab. And she might even become radicalized. I know that Kush has been established as not being a practicing Muslim (he's an Iranian Muslim) but I think it would be interesting if he was actually radicalized already and that friendly, open, gregarious nature of his is a cover for something a lot more sinister. As I wrote, it would be risky and I doubt DTC has the stomach to have this played out.

By personal drama I mean her reaction to her dad's situation last summer when he faced charges with kerb crawling. And also her reaction to her mother's rape. I keep waiting for something to happen to HER.

I don't see why the BBC can't do a deal with hulu or Netflix to add EE. Hulu has Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Neighbours.

What did Ben strike Heather with which caused her death? Was it a clock? What Bobby did was too similar.

I stand by my Maddy Hill love. If she wasn't at her best this week it was because she was handed melodramatic, plot-driven material. She's an actress who shines in personal drama, not melodrama.

Will Bobby kill again?

Janine? You in danger, girl.

After Bobby finds out how Janine tormented his birth mother he'll be out for blood again.

Mark Moraghan, who's had major roles on both Brookside and Holby City and is the current voice of Thomas the Tank Engine, just tweeted that he's finished his first week on CS. Perhaps he's playing Liz' new love interest?

Absolutely fantastic episode. Woodyatt and Brett were superb.

I still disagree with the decision to have the murder actually be an accident involving a ten year old child. Not with all the time that we invested in it.

Thanks for the kind comments re: the Gazette, Carl. Larry's a nice guy. And by contributing to the Gazette I got to meet and interview June Brown, Barbara Windsor, Pam St. Clement, Anita Dobson, Patsy Palmer, Shaun Willuamson, Deepak Verma, Gillian Taylforth, Martine McCutcheon, Edna Dore, Lucy Speed and many others. Of everyone I interviewed the only one who I had to fight hard to not sound like a douchebag in the Q&A format interviews was Sid Owen. Uggh. What a dickhead.

I disagree about the Carters being the most isolated family. They run the Vic! And Mick became friends with Ian, albeit in a rather contrived way. The Ferreiras have been the most isolated family by far. For weeks we'd only see scenes either just between them or with The Other Shirley.

Isn't it possible there's one more twist to come? Where's Cindy in all this? Maybe he's covering for her? There was a telling shot last night of her creeeping into bed and spooning with Bobby. Ewww.

I liked the flashback episode although I have a feeling Liam was four inches shorter on Good Friday.

I was watching the episodes on my phone so I didn't get a clear look but it looked to me like Ben Hardy mouthed "f**k" when Ian corrected him about Denise.

Bravo, Carl. I loved your assessment of tonight's episodes. I agree with practically everything you've written except I actually like the Carters and feel they've been a good thing for the show. I continue to see real potential in Maddy Hill (Nancy) but I'm not sure that they will ever find a really good story for her. I could see her fall in live with a Muslim man (NOT Tamwar) and convert fully, including wearing the hajib. That would send Mick round the bend.

Here's a nice article about The Walford Gazette, which I've been conducting actor/production staff interviews for since 1995. I can be spotted in a pic taken at a 2012 gathering in NYC with Michelle Collins.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2960350/EastEnders-biggest-fan-New-Yorker-s-s-stars-stay-don-t-tell-happens-Lucy-s-ten-years-behind.html

Yep. Kathy's back. I'm happy.

I do think that Bobby (or Sandy, as he's known by Tanya) being the killer is lame, though.

If the duff-duff at the end of tomorrow's live episode isn't Phil telling Ian that Kathy's alive then I'll be surprised. It was clear in last night's episode that he didn't want to tell him in front of Ben.

Fair enough, Carl, re Kathy speculation. Let's wait and see.

I always thought the way to have gotten around Vicky's abrupt switch to an American accent would have gone something like this: during her 3 month absence, we found out that Vicky had been living in another area of London with four or five housemates. And in an effort to fit in with them she "adjusted" her accent. And so when she returned to Walford she made a conscious decision to hang on to it.

I haven't watched tonight's episode yet but I gather that Jo Joyner (Tanya) messed up and asked Jane "How's Adam?" rather than "How's Ian?" It's being treated like it's a big deal, of course.

I do think it is. It sppears to be more than a coincidence that Taylforth did that well received Children in Neec sketch in November and a month later

came back to Hollyoaks for the sole purpose of them writing off her character for good. Sandy was sent to Canada! I think 2015 is the year that both Ian ans Sharon reconnect with biological family.

I couldn't agree more about Charlie and Roxy discussing their "situation" in front of Ronnie, who was clearly close to waking up. That was pretty bad.

During Ian's sweet conversation with Sharon he mentioned feeling like he doesn't have anyone anymore who'll be proud of him. And he mentioned they were both orphans. Talk about foreshadowing...and I don't think it's just brcause we'll be meeting some of Sharon's bio family this year.

I think I posted here last month that when I was over in the UK at New Years someone connected to the show told me I shouldn't be surprised if Kathy is brought back sometime in 2015. Tonight there's rampant speculation that in the latest episode Phil was about to tell Ian that he had reason to believe Kathy was still alive. Well, now I won't be surprised if she's brought back.

Terrific episode tonight. Beautiful CGI high and wide shot of Albert Square with Canary Wharf glistening nearby. Gorgeous moment of Ian gazing across the bar of the pub to see Mick and Nancy horsing around. Great start to a crucial week. I could have done without John Partridge showing up looking like Christopher Walken's pimp character in Pennies From Heaven, though.

I wonder how much moolah Mr. Wood pulls these days as the voice of the Geico gecko.

Just watched it and Linda Davidson looked adorable. It was a fun hour. Two good clip montages, even though June Brown's gorgeous "Yeah" before "Yeah, I will" when Jim proposed to Dot was not included.

Shane Richie told a fib when he claimed that Alfie wasn't intended for Kat. I know for a fact that Tony Jordan wrote in Alfie to be, amongst other things, Kat's love interest.

If he didn't treat her respectfully I would hope she would have done a certain something with her middle finger like Mary did as she boarded that bus...

Carl, Barbara Garrick played Lorna Whitmore, a painfully obviousl rip off of Liza from AMC. I did background work a few times during the Kirk-Franny-Lorna era and I think I've posted already here that Christian LeBlanc often said on set that he was his show's Tad Martin. Uggh.

I suspect that if a stronger, more charismatic actress had played Carol then they would have kept her around longer. It would have been interesting if Lindsay Coulson had played THAT Carol although she was probably too young.

I don't think that'll be the case, either. It will just be interesting to have a few of them around for a while.

For the record Carol didn't exactly reject Sharon, did she? I think what happened was Carol wanted the relationship to be like that of friends and Sharon didn't warm to that idea so she walked away.

Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2 will be live from Albert Square tomorrow for 3 hours from 2 pm their time. I'll be recording it on my TuneIn app.

Good. It's way past time we met more of Sharon's bio family. I've found the hardcore resistance of some fans at the idea of bringing them on to be quite tiresome. New family members will generate new storylines. It's stupid to insist that Sharon's only "family" was Den, Angie, Dennis and Vicki. Families are much more complex than that. These are blood relatives we'll be meeting over the course of the year. I'm looking forward to it.

I just don't want Lucy's death to be a complete accident. For once I'd like a character to be killled intentionally. Anything else looks like a cop out.

I can't believe some people actually think that Ian killed Lucy. HUH? That would mean he'd have to be written out. Please. That ain't gonna happen.